Tariffs, Tech, and What Manufacturers Need to Know Today
What’s happening now with U.S. trade policy?
The Commerce Department has opened new investigations into imports of robotics, industrial machinery (such as milling machines and computer-controlled mechanical systems), and certain medical devices (including insulin pumps, heart valves, prosthetics, blood glucose monitors, hearing aids, and pacemakers). These reviews fall under Section 232, which allows tariffs on goods considered critical to national security.
Why does this matter for manufacturing and supply chains?
Robotics and industrial machinery are at the core of factory operations. If new tariffs are imposed, equipment costs could rise, potentially slowing modernization and reshoring plans.
What’s the bigger picture?
This is part of a broader push to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for critical technologies and healthcare equipment. The outcome could reshape sourcing strategies and investment decisions across manufacturing sectors.
How is your organization preparing for potential changes in trade rules that directly affect factory automation and supply chain resilience?
